The network showed television images of an unidentified young woman, a brunette with a pony tail, holding in her arms a child wrapped in a grey blanket. She was surrounded by airport security personnel, a bodyguard, and Madonna's aides. The child, who was wearing denim shorts, a white T-shirt and a baseball cap, did not cry and seemed alert despite the long flight.
Madonna, 48, was granted an interim order to adopt the poor farmer's son by a high court in Malawi last Thursday after spending a week in the poverty-stricken country to assess Aids projects she had funded. In London, when her adoption plans became clear last week, Madonna came under fire from charity groups who said she could use her wealth more effectively to help orphaned children. "Yet, whilst Madonna's adoption of baby David Banda may make a difference to one child, ActionAid believes there are better ways to help," the group said.
"The very best way to help children affected by Aids is to keep their parents alive by giving them the anti-retroviral Aids drugs they need," it said. It also proposed sponsoring children. "Child sponsorship helps not only the child, but the community they live in," it said.
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